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Donations, volunteers sought to make 'Bright Holidays' for Jacksonville families

Among the board members for the Bright Holidays nonprofit is former Jacksonville Jaguars David Garrard (rear, third from right).

In 2012, David Garrard, Honorary Chair of Bright Holidays, and founder John Forrester greet a neighborhood child as they and other volunteers deliver holiday gifts to a struggling family.

As the school year gets under way in the Jacksonville area so does the annual Bright Holidays campaign, which helps financially struggling families during the holiday season.

Each year, Bright Holidays provides food, clothing and items such as sleeping bags and school supplies to public school children and their families.

About 350 community volunteers shop, sort, wrap and deliver gifts at each school. This year, the campaign is expected to serve nearly 900 children at 50 schools, according to news release.

"Every year in August, we begin reaching out to local public school principals and encourage them to identify students who are in need of basic necessities," said founder John Forrester, whose wife, Leigh Forrester, is executive director of the charity. "We are working hard to increase donations, so that we can expand our outreach to even more local schools whose students are in need of assistance."

Among the children that have received gifts in past years were Diego Chavez, 9, who attends Chets Creek Elementary, along with his 13-year-old brother, 3-year-old sister and additional siblings, according to the release.

"We were all very emotional and happy to see all the blessings that were gifted to us," said Diego's mother, Laura Chavez, through a Spanish translator. "The children are still using many of the items they received, including the sleeping bags and clothes. These gifts were very helpful to us."

Among the members of the Bright Futures board of directors is former Jacksonville Jaguars’ starting quarterback David Garrard, who has been the co-chairman of fundraising since 2007.

Founded in 2003, Bright Holidays raised $97,733 in 2013, a modest increase over 2012. Virtually 100 percent of every dollar raised goes back to the community, according to the release. About 74 percent of the nonprofit's 2012 donors repeated their efforts in 2013, with most of them giving as much or more than they did the year before.

Forrester is board chair and chief executive of Predator Group, a local, privately-held company that distributes carom, pool and snooker products. Leigh Forrester has about 20 years experience in development/advancement with educational institutions and nonprofits.

To donate, volunteer or get more information, go to brightholidays.org.